𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌲𑌹𑌰𑍀
Shivananda Lahari in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥
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Origin & Story
Shivananda Lahari, composed by Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · 8th century CE
The Shivananda Lahari was composed by Adi Shankaracharya, the great teacher of Advaita Vedanta, as an outpouring of personal devotion to Lord Shiva. Tradition holds that he composed it at Srisailam, one of the most sacred Shiva shrines. Where his Soundarya Lahari sings of the Divine Mother's beauty, the Shivananda Lahari sings of the bliss of Shiva, presenting the path of loving surrender (bhakti) as inseparable from the highest knowledge. Its 100 verses overflow with images of grace as a river, the heart as its resting lake, and the devotee asking for nothing but Shiva's feet.
✦ As told in scripture
Tradition tells that Adi Shankaracharya sang the Shivananda Lahari at the holy hill of Srisailam, and that Lord Shiva, moved by the depth of his devotion, granted him a vision of his presence. The poem itself answers the seeker in Shiva's own voice — 'Tell me, what do you seek?' — and the devotee asks for nothing but the endless worship of his feet.
Complete Text with Meaning
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𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌚𑍂𑌡𑌾𑌲𑌂𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌶𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌜𑌤𑌪𑌃- 𑌫𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌟𑌿𑌤𑌫𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑍁 𑌮𑍇। 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌕𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌿 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌰𑌦𑌨𑍁𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌤𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌮𑍍॥
Kalabhyam Choodalankrita-shashikalabhyam Nija-tapah- phalabhyam Bhakteshu Prakatita-phalabhyam Bhavatu Me Shivabhyam-astoka-tribhuvana-shivabhyam Hridi Punar Bhavabhyam-ananda-sphurad-anubhavabhyam Natir-iyam
Meaning:May this salutation of mine be offered again and again, in my heart, to the two — Shiva and Shivaa — who are adorned with the crescent moon upon their crest, who are the very fruit of each other's penance, who reveal their grace to devotees, who bring boundless auspiciousness to the three worlds, and who shine forth as the experience of bliss.
𑌗𑌲𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌸𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌷𑌰𑌜𑍋 𑌦𑌲𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌧𑍀𑌕𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑌰𑌣𑌿𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌵𑌿𑌜𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌦𑌿𑌶𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌣𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌪𑍋𑌪𑌶𑌮𑌨𑌂 𑌵𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌮𑌚𑍍𑌚𑍇𑌤𑍋𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌲𑌹𑌰𑍀॥
Galanti Shambho Tvach-charita-saritah Kilbisha-rajo Dalanti Dhi-kulyaa-saranishu Patanti Vijayataam Dishanti Samsara-bhramana-paritapopashamanam Vasanti Mach-cheto-hrida-bhuvi Shivananda-lahari
Meaning:May the Wave of Shiva's Bliss be ever victorious — flowing as the river of your sacred deeds, O Shambhu, washing away the dust of sins, coursing through the channels of the intellect, granting relief from the torment of wandering in worldly existence, and coming to dwell in the lake-bed of my heart.
𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌹𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑌂 𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌚𑌲𑌦𑍁𑌰𑌗𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑍃𑌗𑌧𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌮𑌯𑌿 𑌸𑌦𑌯𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑌶𑍁𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌂 𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌡𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌂 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌿 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥
Trayee-vedyam Hridyam Tripura-haram-aadyam Trinayanam Jata-bharodaram Chalad-uraga-haram Mriga-dharam Mahadevam Devam Mayi Sadaya-bhavam Pashupatim Chidalambam Saambam Shivam-ati-vidambam Hridi Bhaje
Meaning:In my heart I worship that Mahadeva — knowable through the three Vedas, delightful, the primordial destroyer of Tripura, the three-eyed Lord with a glorious mass of matted hair, wearing a moving serpent as a garland and holding a deer; the great God, ever compassionate to me, the Lord of beings, the support of consciousness, who is with Mother Amba, the auspicious one beyond all mimicry.
𑌸𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌬𑍁𑌧𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌫𑌲𑌦𑌾 𑌨 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍇 𑌵𑌾 𑌤𑌦𑌨𑍁𑌸𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌫𑌲𑌮𑍍। 𑌹𑌰𑌿𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌨𑌿𑌕𑌟𑌭𑌾𑌜𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌲𑌭𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌂 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑍇 𑌶𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋 𑌶𑌿𑌵 𑌤𑌵 𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋𑌜𑌭𑌜𑌨𑌮𑍍॥
Sahasram Vartante Jagati Vibudhaah Kshudra-phaladaa Na Manye Svapne Va Tad-anusaranam Tat-krita-phalam Hari-brahmadinaam-api Nikata-bhajaam-asulabham Chiram Yache Shambho Shiva Tava Padambhoja-bhajanam
Meaning:There are a thousand lesser gods in this world who grant only petty rewards; even in a dream I do not think of following them or of the fruit they give. What is hard to attain even for Hari, Brahma and others who stand near you — that I beg of you forever, O Shambhu, O Shiva: the worship of your lotus feet.
𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌹𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍀𑌶𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌵𑌚𑌸𑌾 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍋। 𑌵𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌕𑌲𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌸𑌮𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯𑌨𑍍 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑍋 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌭𑌰𑍇𑌣 𑌚 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌿𑌨𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑌸𑍇 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌹𑌿 𑌮𑌾𑌮𑍍॥
Tvat-padambujam-archayami Paramam Tvam Chintayamy-anvaham Tvam-isham Sharanam Vrajami Vachasa Tvam-eva Yache Vibho Veekshe Tvam Sakalam Bhavantam-asamam Sarvatra Sambhavayan Bhavo Bhakti-bharena Cha Pratidinam Kim Yachase Broohi Maam
Meaning:I worship your lotus feet, I ever contemplate you as the Supreme, I take refuge in you as my Lord, with my words I beg of you alone, O all-pervading One; I behold you everywhere, the incomparable One present in all, with a heart full of devotion each day. (And you ask me) 'Tell me, what is it you seek?'
𑌆𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌤𑍇𑌜𑌸𑍇 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌪𑌦𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌸𑌾𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌮𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌗𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑌂𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌿𑌨𑍇। 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌖𑌿𑌲𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌃 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌗𑌣𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍇𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍇 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍 𑌤𑌾𑌂𑌡𑌵𑌸𑌂𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌯 𑌜𑌟𑌿𑌨𑍇 𑌸𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌶𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌵𑍇॥
Aadyaayaamita-tejase Shruti-padair-vedyaaya Saadhyaaya Te Vidyaananda-mayaatmane Tri-jagatah Samrakshanodyogine Dhyeyaayaakhila-yogibhih Sura-ganair-geyaaya Maayaavine Samyak Tandava-sambhramaaya Jatine Seyam Natih Shambhave
Meaning:This my salutation is to Shambhu — the Primordial One of measureless splendour, knowable through the words of the Vedas, the goal to be attained, whose nature is the bliss of knowledge, ever striving to protect the three worlds, meditated upon by all yogis, sung by the hosts of gods, the wielder of Maya, intent upon the rapture of the cosmic dance, the one with matted locks.
𑌨𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌵𑌾 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑍋𑌪𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌕𑌂 𑌪𑌶𑍂𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍 𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌗𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌚𑌰𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌜𑌗𑌤𑍍 𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌤𑍍 𑌸𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌾। 𑌪𑍀𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌵𑌿𑌲𑍋𑌲𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌲𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍈𑌵 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌪𑌣𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌬𑍁𑌧𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌮𑌂𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌪𑍁𑌃॥
Naalam Va Paramopakaarakam-idam Tv-ekam Pashoonam Pate Pashyan Kukshi-gataan Charaachara-jagat Saakshaat Sahante'pi Va Peetva Yatra Vilola-kala-kalanaam Matvaiva Durvaasanaam Kaala-kshepanamaamananti Vibudhaah Kshemankaram Te Vapuh
Meaning:Is this not your one supremely benevolent act, O Lord of beings — that you behold within yourself the whole moving and unmoving universe, and even bear it? Having drunk and held back the surging poison that men deem the cause of dread, the wise declare that your form, which thus spends time, is the very giver of universal welfare.
𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑌶𑍁𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌣𑍁𑌂 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌮𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥
Rudram Pashupatim Sthaanum Neelakantham Umaapatim Namaami Shirasaa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati
Meaning:I bow with my head to that God — Rudra, the Lord of beings, the immovable Sthanu, the blue-throated one, the Lord of Uma. What then can death do to us?
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Shivananda Lahari
Kindles intense, melting devotion (bhakti) toward Lord Shiva
Fills the heart with the 'wave of bliss' that washes away sin and sorrow
Teaches the seeker to ask for nothing but the worship of Shiva's feet
Calms the torment of worldly wandering and brings inner peace
Recited for spiritual wisdom, surrender, and freedom from fear of death
Composed by Adi Shankaracharya — carries the grace of the great Acharya
Deepens the understanding of Shiva as both the personal Lord and the Absolute
How to Chant Shivananda Lahari
Sit calmly before an image or Lingam of Shiva and recite the verses slowly, savouring their meaning rather than hurrying. Shivananda Lahari is a poem of feeling, so chant it as an offering of love, letting the heart soften into the 'wave of Shiva's bliss.' Those who learn the full 100-verse work often recite it daily; reciting even these verses with devotion is greatly blessed.
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